25+ Interesting Facts About Platypuses

1. Platypus, or duck-billed platypus, is a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal. It is endemic to eastern Australia and Tasmania.
2. Platypus is one of the five living species of monotremes (egg-laying mammals). The other four species belong to echidnas. It is one of two monotremes (alongside short-beaked echidnas) in Australia.
3. Platypus is one of the three mammals (alongside echidnas and the Guiana dolphin) that use electroreception for hunting. These monotremes close their eyes, nose, and ears while diving and use three receptor cells in their bills to detect prey (mollusks, worms, etc.). Their bills contain push-rod mechanoreceptors and two types of electroreceptors to locate the direction and distance of prey. Compared to 2,000 or fewer electroreceptor cells in echidnas, there are 40,000 such cells in platypi. (Source)
4. Male platypuses contain venom in their spurs, present on the heels of both rear feet. They use this venom against prey and also against other platypuses during the mating season. It is non-fatal to humans but causes severe pain for weeks or months. Morphine, other painkillers, and antivenom are ineffective against this toxin. (Source)
5. According to research, venom in platypi contains a metabolic hormone, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), that can treat type 2 diabetes. This hormone is also present in humans but can degrade rapidly. GLP-1 in platypuses is resistant to degradation due to its dual functionality in venom and gut. (Source)
6. Like other mammals, female platypuses also produce milk. However, platypi and other monotremes do not have nipples and secrete milk from mammary glands through the surface of their skin.
7. Platypus milk contains a unique protein that can fight against drug-resistant bacteria. The protein in this milk has a different structure than the more than 100,000 protein structures known to biologists. (Source)
8. Duck-billed platypus has ten sex chromosomes in five pairs, the highest in mammals. The total pairs of chromosomes in these monotreme mammals are 26, compared to 23 in humans. The sex chromosome pairs in platypuses have features similar to mammals and birds. (Source)
9. This mammal has body parts similar to other common animals: ducks (bill and feet), otters (body and fur), and beavers (tail). Therefore, the initial observers considered it a fake animal having different parts sewn together.

   

   Initial observers considered platypus a fake animal due to its strange shape

   
   
10. Both male and female platypuses dig burrows along water bodies. The burrows of pregnant females are deeper and more complex.
11. Before the arrival of Europeans, the aboriginal Australians hunted platypus for food. Later, the Europeans extensively hunted them for fur, which reduced their population considerably. Australia banned the hunting of platypi in 1912.
12. Platypuses sleep nearly 14 hours a day. Humans spend around 25% of their sleep in REM (rapid eye movement) state, while this deep rest duration comprises 60% of total sleep in platypus.
13. The fur of platypus is dense and waterproof, which maintains insulation. The soft underfur remains dry in water as it receives protection from outer long guard hairs.
14. Platypus glows a bluish-green color when exposed to UV light (blacklight). According to estimates, this may protect the mammal from its predators that can see in UV. (Source)
15. Platypus has broad and flat tail that provides stabilization during swimming. It also stores a large amount of fat that fulfills nutritional requirements when the food is insufficient.
16. Like other monotremes and several fish, the platypus is without a stomach. These and other stomach-free animals are unlikely to re-grow stomachs due to their loss of genes responsible for the production of pepsin and acid digestion. (Source)
17. Platypuses can grow around 20 inches from head to tail and weigh nearly 3 pounds. Males are larger than females.
18. The body temperature in platypus is 32 C, lower than other mammals at 37 C. They can maintain this temperature during their stay in water at 4 C.
19. Newborn platypuses have a limited number of teeth. However, they lose them after leaving their burrows. Adult platypus develops hardened gum tissues for chewing food.
20. Their lifespan is up to 12 years in the wild and more than 20 years in captivity. Their only captive place outside Australia is the San Diego Zoo in California (USA).
21. Several mammals, birds, and reptiles can hunt platypuses. These include snakes, goannas, hawks, eagles, owls, water rats, dogs, cats, foxes, and Tasmanian devils.
22. Platypuses are generally nocturnal and crepuscular animals and remain active from dusk to dawn. They spend the remaining time in their burrows.
23. Platypuses generally swim in freshwater for feeding but can also swim in salt water. They swim using their front feet as peddles and hind feet as brakes and rudders.
24. Platypuses mate in the water from late winter to spring. Females lay one to three eggs on land after a gestation period of up to a month. The incubation of eggs takes ten days. Males leave females after mating and play no role in rearing eggs and newborns.
25. According to the latest research, platypuses were present on Earth nearly 70 million years ago in South America. This discovery proves they were present during the existence of dinosaurs. (Source)
26. According to the fossil record, the largest-ever platypus was 1 meter (3.3 feet) long. It was present in Australia around 15 million years ago. Due to its large size and structure of teeth, it was eating comparatively large animals like fish, amphibians, and small turtles. (Source)
27. Platypuses use webbing on their feet to swim effectively. However, they can retract this webbing while on land, which allows them to walk and run effortlessly.
28. Platypus is a carnivore mammal that eats worms, insects, shellfish, and larvae. They have cheek pouches to store food before swallowing. These mammals eat their prey alongside gravel, which assists them in grinding food inside these pouches.